Justin Baldoni’s former agency, WME, insists that Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively had nothing to do with them dropping the actor and director.
The talent agency dropped Baldoni, 40, as a client last month just one day after Lively, 37, filed a complaint with the California Civil Rights Department, accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment and a hostile workplace on the set of their movie, It Ends With Us. On Tuesday, December 31, Baldoni filed a $250 million lawsuit against The New York Times — which covered Lively’s complaint on December 21 — alleging, in part, that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent to drop him at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere last year in an attempt at “destroying Baldoni’s career and personal life.”
On Wednesday, January 1, WME told The Hollywood Reporter, “In Baldoni’s filing, there is a claim that Reynolds pressured Baldoni’s agent at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere. This is not true. Baldoni’s former representative was not at the Deadpool & Wolverine premiere nor was there any pressure from Reynolds or Lively at any time to drop Baldoni as a client.”
Baldoni is suing the New York Times for libel and false light invasion of privacy, among other things.
Every Counterclaim Made in Justin Baldoni’s New York Times Lawsuit
The lawsuit, obtained by Us Weekly, alleges that Lively “systematically sidelined [him] from the marketing of his own Film.”
Baldoni also alleged that Lively tried to ban him from the movie’s premiere last summer.
“Further undermining Baldoni’s role, Lively initially refused to permit his attendance at the Film’s premiere,” the lawsuit states. “Only after significant pressure did she reluctantly agree to allow Baldoni and the Wayfarer team to attend, but under humiliating conditions. The Wayfarer team and their families, including Baldoni and [producer Jamey] Heath, were segregated from the main cast, barred from the exclusive after-party, and forced to organize their own event at additional cost.”
The suit further describes Lively’s alleged effort to ostracize Baldoni and his family at the film’s premiere.
“Baldoni’s participation on the red carpet was cut short, and his family and friends were confined to a makeshift holding area in the basement before being escorted into a separate theater after Lively’s departure,” the suit continues. “Not only had Lively stolen the Film, but she also robbed Baldoni and his team of any genuine opportunity to celebrate their hard work.”
Lively filed her own lawsuit against Baldoni in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, Us can confirm. In addition to Baldoni, the actress is also suing publicists Melissa Nathan and Jennifer Abel, along with Wayfarer Studios.
Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni’s Reported ‘It Ends With Us’ Drama Explained
The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment, retaliation, breach of contract, infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy and lost wages. The claims parallel those made in Lively’s complaint filed with the California Civil Rights Department 11 days prior.
“Nothing in this lawsuit changes anything about the claims advanced in Ms. Lively’s California Civil Rights Department Complaint, nor her federal complaint, filed earlier today,” Lively’s attorney responded to Baldoni’s lawsuit in a statement to Us. “This lawsuit is based on the obviously false premise that Ms. Lively’s administrative complaint against Wayfarer and others was a ruse based on a choice ‘not to file a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer,’ and that ‘litigation was never her ultimate goal.’ As demonstrated by the federal complaint filed by Ms. Lively earlier today, that frame of reference for the Wayfarer lawsuit is false. While we will not litigate this matter in the press, we do encourage people to read Ms. Lively’s complaint in its entirety. We look forward to addressing each and every one of Wayfarer’s allegations in court.”
